I love taking pictures using the Through the Viewfinder technique. If you're unfamiliar with TtV photography, it means using a digital camera to take photos through the viewfinder of a vintage twin-lens camera. Yes, there are lots of apps on smartphones these days that can instantly apply filters to achieve similar results, but by using this hand-crafted contraption you can create images that are totally unique. No one else's dusty old viewfinder will be exactly like yours. What's more, it means a lovely old camera gets a second lease of life!

What you need

Craft blog: vintage-looking photographs. Photograph: Angie Muldowney

A digital camera (a regular 'point and shoot' works well, as does a dSLR with a macro lens)An old twin-lens camera with a biggish viewfinder*Some card, about A3 size (an old cereal box is perfect)Sticky tapePen or pencilRulerScissors and/or knife

*The type of old camera you need is one with two lenses on the front and a big viewfinder on top that you look down into (rather than holding up to your eye). It doesn't matter if the camera no longer works, and the more dusty and deteriorated it is the better! I am using a Kodak Duraflex here, but if you search online auction sites for a 'vintage tlr camera' you should find something for less than £10.

What to do

1. First, construct a square tube of cardboard to sit snugly over your old camera. The aim here is to block out the light and reduce reflections so that the digital camera can focus solely on the image that is beaming through the viewfinder. Do a quick test shot with your chosen camera through the viewfinder, before building your contraption so you can measure the distance between the two and make sure you have enough card to build it tall enough.

How to: vintage-looking photographs. Photograph: Angie Muldowney

2. If you are happy for your old camera to remain semi-permanently ensconced within a cereal box contraption, then use gaffer tape to seal everything up and attach the card to the camera. Otherwise make something with slots and holes for the knobs and dials - as well as creating a tighter fit, it also helps to hold your contraption in place. However you do this, though, remember not to obscure either of the two lenses.

How to: vintage-looking photographs Photograph: Angie Muldowney

3. Now for the exciting bit - taking photos! Try different settings until you find the right one for your particular set-up. Start by using a macro setting and zoom in so that the viewfinder is as big as possible in the frame, while leaving a thick black border to allow for slippage. Don't forget, everything will be back to front.

4. You may be happy to keep the photos as they are, or you can use a simple photo editing package to straighten them and crop to a square (and maybe flip them over so they are not back to front - personally I rather like the backwards look). Try to restrain yourself from tinkering too much - the charm and beauty of these photos is their unique depiction of how your old camera saw the world.